Splicing Device and Method for Sealing Conduit Spaces

Abstract

A splicing device ( 10 ) is provided for sealing a conduit space ( 14 ) between two pipe sections ( 16,18 ). The splicing device includes a first body ( 20 ) and a second body ( 60 ) that are formed as an integral one-piece. A pair of clasp members ( 101 ) are mounted on the first and second body sections to secure them in an assembled state. To allow for mechanical advantage in closing the clasp members, each member is provided with an outwardly oriented ear ( 111 ) that can be engaged to a tool to force the members towards one another.

1 . A splicing device adapted to mount around a portion of conduit of predetermined size and cross-sectional geometry to seal a space therein, comprising: 
 (a) first and second body sections securable together in an assembled state thereby to form a sleeve having a cross-section geometrically similar to said conduit and sized to surround the portion of conduit, each of said first and second body sections including a sidewall forming a longitudinal channel with said sidewall having a pair of lateral side edges and opposite end edges, the lateral side edges of said first body section and the lateral side edges of said second body section oriented to confront one another as respective confronting edge pairs when in the assembled state such that the channels form an axially extending chamber having a central longitudinal axis, said sleeve sized and adapted for close-fitted engagement with an exterior surface of the portion of conduit, each of said first and second body sections including a first and a second set of seals projecting from an inner surface thereof with said first set of seals longitudinally spaced from said second set of seals, said seals projecting in a plane transverse to the longitudinal axis at a seal height sized to collapse against the exterior surface of the portion of conduit on opposite sides of the space when in the assembled state;    (b) at least one clasp member operative to secure said first and second sections together and retain them in the assembled state.    
   
   
       2 . A splicing device according to  claim 1  wherein each of said first and second body sections includes a pair of spaced-apart fulcrum ribs on the inner surface thereof, said fulcrum ribs projecting from the inner surface thereof in a plane transverse to the longitudinal axis at a rib height less than the seal height.  
   
   
       3 . A splicing device according to  claim 1  wherein said lateral side edges include registration structures operative to position said first and second body sections in the assembled state such that the first set of seals on said of first and second body sections align with one another and such that the second set of seals on said first and second body sections align with one another.  
   
   
       4 . A splicing device according to  claim 3  wherein said registration structures includes matable posts and bores on said lateral edges.  
   
   
       5 . A splicing device according to  claim 1  wherein said first and second sets of seals are respectively defined by a first and a second set of upstanding fins formed on the inner surface of the respective first and second.  
   
   
       6 . A splicing device according to  claim 5  wherein the first set of fins on said first and second body sections form a first common spiral structure when in the assembled state and wherein the second set of fins on said first and second body sections form a second common spiral structure when in the assembled state.  
   
   
       7 . A splicing device according to  claim 6  including a first pair of ports through said sidewall in fluid communication with said first spiral structure and a second pair of ports through said sidewall in fluid communication with said second spiral structure.  
   
   
       8 . A splicing device according to  claim 1  wherein the confronting edges of each of the respective edge pairs mechanically interlock with one another.  
   
   
       9 . A splicing device according to  claim 8  wherein one of the confronting edges of each confronting edge pair has a groove formed therein and another of the confronting edges of each confronting edge pair has a tongue formed thereon, said tongue sized to mate with said groove.  
   
   
       10 . A splicing device according to  claim 9  wherein a portion of the tongue is separated into a plurality of fingers and wherein a portion of the groove facing said fingers in the assembled state has upstanding prongs separated by gaps, said fingers matable in said gaps when in the assembled state.  
   
   
       11 . A splicing device according to  claim 10  wherein said fingers are an extension of respective ones of said first and second seals and wherein each of said fingers includes a web portion operative to align the respective first and second seals on said first and second body sections with one another when in the assembled state.  
   
   
       12 . A splicing device according to  claim 1  wherein said first and second body sections each include at least one longitudinal flange on an outer surface thereof adjacent to a respective lateral edge such that said flanges are in opposed relation with one another when in the assembled state, said clasp member operative to releasably clamp said flanges together to retain said first and second body sections in the assembled state.  
   
   
       13 . A splicing device according to  claim 12  wherein said first and second body sections each include a said longitudinal flange on an outer surface thereof adjacent to each respective lateral edge such that said flanges are in opposed relation with one another when in the assembled state and including a pair of clasp members operative to releasably clamp said flanges together to retain said first and second body sections in the assembled state.  
   
   
       14 . A splicing device according to  claim 12  wherein said clasp member includes a pair of jaws and a pair of jaw retainers, said jaw retainers being relatively movable with toward one another from an open position to a closed position thereby to move said jaws from an unlocked position to a locked position, said jaws positional on said flanges when the clasp is in the open position and operative in the locked position to clamp said flanges together.  
   
   
       15 . A splicing device according to  claim 14  wherein said jaw retainers have opposed channels each receiving one of said jaws with the channels each having first inclined surfaces on a bottom thereof, said jaws including second inclined surfaces positioned such that said first and second inclined surfaces coact when said jaw retainers are moved toward one another to advance the jaws toward the locked position.  
   
   
       16 . A splicing device according to  claim 15  wherein said jaw retainers each have a pair of slots and said jaws include a plurality of retaining posts respectively received in the slots thereby to hold said jaws in said channels during movement thereof.  
   
   
       17 . A splicing device according to  claim 14  wherein each of said jaw retainers includes an end stop, said end stops operative to abut the opposite end edges of said first and second body sections when said jaw retainers are moved together into the closed position.  
   
   
       18 . A splicing device according to  claim 14  wherein said jaw retainers and said flanges including matable structures to retain said clasps on said sleeve prior to advancing the jaws into the closed position.  
   
   
       19 . A splicing device adapted to mount around a portion of cylindrical conduit of predetermined size to seal a space therein, comprising: 
 (a) a hollow cylindrical sleeve sized to surround the portion of conduit and including a surrounding sidewall with opposite sleeve end edges and forming an axial chamber oriented about a central longitudinal axis with opposite end openings, said sleeve formed by first and second body sections constructed of a stiff material as one-half of said cylindrical sleeve and securable together in an assembled state thereby to form said sleeve, each of said first and second body sections including an arcuate sidewall portion forming a longitudinal channel with said sidewall portion having a pair of lateral side edges and opposite end edges, the lateral side edges of said first body section and the lateral side edges of said second body section oriented to confront one another as respective confronting edge pairs when in the assembled state such that the channels form the axially extending chamber, said sleeve sized and adapted for close-fitted engagement with an exterior surface of the portion of conduit, each of said first and second body sections including a first and a second set of circumferential fins projecting radially inwardly from an inner surface thereof at a fin height sized to collapse against the exterior surface of the portion of conduit on opposite sides of the space when in the assembled state with said first set of fins longitudinally spaced from said second set of fins;    (b) first and second clasp members together operative to secure said first and second sections together and retain them in the assembled state.    
   
   
       20 . A splicing device according to  claim 19  wherein each of said first and second body sections includes a pair of spaced-apart first fulcrum ribs on the inner surface thereof, said fulcrum ribs projecting radially from the inner surface thereof at a first rib height less than the fin height.  
   
   
       21 . A splicing device according to  claim 20  wherein each of said first fulcrum ribs is proximate to a respective said end edge.  
   
   
       22 . A splicing device according to  claim 21  wherein each of said first and second body sections includes a pair of spaced-apart second fulcrum ribs on the inner surface thereof, said second fulcrum ribs projecting radially from the inner surface thereof at a second rib height less than the fin height, said second fulcrum ribs located intermediately of said first fulcrum ribs.  
   
   
       23 . A splicing device according to  claim 22  wherein each said first and second set of fins is located between a respective first fulcrum rib and a respective second fulcrum rib.  
   
   
       24 . A splicing device according to  claim 19  wherein each of said first and second body sections includes a third and a fourth set of circumferential fins projecting radially inwardly from an inner surface thereof at a fin height sized to collapse against the exterior surface of the portion of conduit on opposite sides of the space when in the assembled state with said first set of fins longitudinally spaced from said second set of fins.  
   
   
       25 . A splicing device according to  claim 24  wherein fins in said first and second sets of fins of said first and second body sections form circular structures and wherein fins in said third and fourth body sections are each defined by a spiral thread.  
   
   
       26 . A splicing device according to  claim 19  wherein the confronting edges of each of the respective edge pairs mechanically interlock with one another.  
   
   
       27 . A splicing device according to  claim 26  wherein one of the confronting edges of each confronting edge pairs has a groove formed therein and another of the confronting edges of each confronting edge pairs has a tongue formed thereon, said tongue sized to mate with said groove.  
   
   
       28 . A splicing device according to  claim 27  wherein a portion of the tongue is separated into a plurality of fingers and wherein a portion of the groove facing said fingers in the assembled state has upstanding prongs separated by gaps, said fingers matable in said gaps when in the assembled state.  
   
   
       29 . A splicing device according to  claim 28  wherein said fingers are an extension of respective ones of said first and second fins and wherein each of said fingers includes a web portion operative to align the respective first and second fins on said first and second body sections with one another when in the assembled state.  
   
   
       30 . A splicing device according to  claim 19  wherein said first and second body sections each include a said longitudinal flange on an outer surface thereof adjacent to each respective lateral edge such that said flanges are in opposed relation with one another when in the assembled state, said first and second clasp members operative to releasably clamp said flanges together to retain said first and second body sections in the assembled state.  
   
   
       31 . A splicing device according to  claim 19  wherein said clasp member includes a pair of jaws and a pair of jaw retainers, said jaw retainers being relatively movable with toward one another thereby to move said jaws from an open position to a closed position, said jaws positionable on said flanges when in the open position and operative in said closed position to clamp said flanges together.  
   
   
       32 . A splicing device according to  claim 19  wherein at least one of said first and second body sections includes a radially inwardly projecting tab disposed on a central portion of the inner surface thereof, said tab sized and adapted to be positioned in the space in said conduit.  
   
   
       33 . A method of joining two pieces of conduit together to seal a space therebetween, comprising the steps of: 
 (a) forming a stiff sleeve around the conduit by positioning first and second body sections in surrounding relation thereto so that a portion of said sleeve extends longitudinally on either side of the space wherein each of said first and second body sections includes a sidewall forming a longitudinal channel to receive the conduit with said sidewall having a pair of lateral side edges and opposite end edges, each of said first and second body sections including a first and a second set of mechanical seals projecting from an inner surface thereof with said first set of seals longitudinally spaced from said second set of seals;    (b) mechanically compressing said first and second body sections together in an assembled state thereby to press said seals against the exterior surface of the portion of conduit on opposite sides of the space; and    (c) locking said first and second body sections together in the assembled state.    
   
   
       34 . The method according to  claim 33  including the step of providing fulcrum regions on said first and second body sections so that forces of compression occurring during the step of mechanically compressing are distributed between said first and second seals.  
   
   
       35 . The method according to  claim 33  including the step of injecting a quantity of a sealant proximately to said seals in a region between the conduit and said first and second body sections in a manner to completely surround said conduit.